Native American Theatre A difficulty in assessing Native American culture is the sheer fact that Native American culture consists of elements of various tribes separated by regional, language, and culture differences. Native American traditional art has historically been rooted in the community, and theatre and plays reflect the interpretation and experiences of a particular community. Much of Native American art incorporated spirituality as well. Rituals and tradition often framed art developed in the community, moreover, much of the dramas focused on the integration of audience experience into the theatre, and the audience and actors became entangled. The telling and retelling of folklore and myth have been considered by historians as “one-person dramas”n which were often told in Native American society. Emotional, spiritual, and physical balance were concepts shared across Native American dramas, and were often incorporated in plays and dramas. Much of the narrative of Native American in some way or another involved shamanism, or metaphysical concepts and ideas. The shaman often possessed powers bestowed to him by sacred spirits, and had the power to heal, to harm, etc. Cooperation by humanity to aide in the restoration of balance was a central theme to many dramas as well. Modern Native American plays, while they often take a turn towards social commentary, retain much of its roots in the spiritual, and the incorporation of community and audience in the production of the plays.
A difficulty in assessing Native American culture is the sheer fact that Native American culture consists of elements of various tribes separated by regional, language, and culture differences. Native American traditional art has historically been rooted in the community, and theatre and plays reflect the interpretation and experiences of a particular community. Much of Native American art incorporated spirituality as well. Rituals and tradition often framed art developed in the community, moreover, much of the dramas focused on the integration of audience experience into the theatre, and the audience and actors became entangled. The telling and retelling of folklore and myth have been considered by historians as “one-person dramas”n which were often told in Native American society. Emotional, spiritual, and physical balance were concepts shared across Native American dramas, and were often incorporated in plays and dramas. Much of the narrative of Native American in some way or another involved shamanism, or metaphysical concepts and ideas. The shaman often possessed powers bestowed to him by sacred spirits, and had the power to heal, to harm, etc. Cooperation by humanity to aide in the restoration of balance was a central theme to many dramas as well. Modern Native American plays, while they often take a turn towards social commentary, retain much of its roots in the spiritual, and the incorporation of community and audience in the production of the plays.